Victims Of Crime Act

Complies with additional eligibility or service criteria established by ADECA.General Programmatic/Financial Requirements and InstructionsGrants funded under the VOCA Victim Assistance Formula Grant Program are governed by thefollowing: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) DOJ Grants Financial Guide (ojp.gov) Federal Register :: Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance ProgramPurpose AreasThe Victims of Crime Act stipulates that a minimum of 40 percent of the state’s total grant will beawarded by giving 10 percent to each of 4 categories of crime victims: sexual assault, domesticviolence, child abuse, and underserved populations. These four different types of crime categories arethe four different purpose areas under this program. Underserved victims are determined by ADECAand are designated by type of crime, demographic, and/or other identifying characteristics. Theunderserved populations are identified as victims in extremely rural communities, victims of elderlyabuse, victims with disabilities, victims categorized as racial or ethnic minorities, survivors ofhomicide, and LGBT victims.If you are applying to specifically target more than one of these purpose areas, then you must submitan individual application for each purpose area. If you have any questions about whether to apply formultiple purpose areas, please reach out for technical assistance.Allowable Costs for Direct ServicesDirect services for which VOCA funds may be used include, but are not limited to, the following, andas can be found in the final federal rules and regulations for the Victims of Crime Act VictimAssistance Program (Federal Register :: Victims of Crime Act Victim Assistance Program):Immediate emotional, psychological, and physical health and safety. Services that respondto immediate needs (other than medical care, except as allowed under paragraph (a)(9) ofsection 94.119) of crime victims, including but not limited to: crisis intervention services;accompanying victims to hospitals for medical examinations; hotline counseling; safetyplanning; emergency food, shelter, clothing, and transportation; short-term (up to 45 days) inhome care and supervision services for children and adults who remain in their own homeswhen the offender/caregiver is removed; short-term (up to 45 days) nursing-home, adult fostercare, or group-home placement for adults for whom no other safe, short-term residence isavailable; window, door, or lock replacement or repair, and other repairs necessary to ensurea victim’s safety; costs of the following, on an emergency basis (i.e., when the State’scompensation program, the victim’s health insurance plan, Medicaid, or other health carefunding source, is not reasonably expected to be available quickly enough to meet theemergency needs of a victim, typically within 18 hours of a crime): nonprescription andprescription medicine, prophylactic or other treatment to prevent HIV/AIDS infection or otherinfectious disease, durable medical equipment and other healthcare items are allowed; andemergency legal assistance, such as filing for restraining or protective orders, obtainingemergency custody orders and visitation rights.Personal advocacy and emotional support. Personal advocacy and emotional support,including, but not limited to: working with a victim to assess the impact of the crime;identification of victim’s needs; case management; management of practical problems created6

by victimization; identification of resources available to the victim; provision of information,referrals, advocacy, and follow-up contact for continued services, as needed; and traditional,cultural, and/or alternative therapy/healing (e.g., art therapy, yoga).Mental health counseling and care. Mental health counseling and care, including, but notlimited to, outpatient therapy/counseling (including, but not limited to, substance-abusetreatment so long as the treatment is directly related to the victimization) provided by a personwho meets professional standards to provide these services in the jurisdiction in which thecare is administered.Peer-support. Peer-support, including, but not limited to, activities that provide opportunitiesfor victims to meet other victims, share experiences, and provide self-help, information, andemotional support.Facilitation of participation in criminal justice and other public proceedings arisingfrom the crime. The provision of services and payment of costs that help victims participatein the criminal justice system and in other public proceedings arising from the crime (e.g.,juvenile justice hearings, civil commitment proceedings), including, but not limited to:advocacy on behalf of a victim; accompanying a victim to offices and court; transportation,meals, and lodging to allow a victim who is not a witness to participate in a proceeding;interpreting for a non-witness victim who is deaf or hard of hearing, or with limited Englishproficiency; providing child care and respite care to enable a victim who is a caregiver toattend activities related to the proceeding; notification to victims regarding key proceedingdates; assistance with Victim Impact Statements; assistance in recovering property that wasretained as evidence; and assistance with restitution on behalf of crime victims.Legal assistance. Legal assistance services (including, but not limited to, those provided onan emergency basis), where reasonable and where the need for such services arises as a directresult of the victimization. Such services include, but are not limited to: those (other thancriminal defense) that help victims assert their rights as victims in a criminal proceedingdirectly related to the victimization, or otherwise protect their safety, privacy, or other interestsas victims in such a proceeding; motions to vacate or expunge a conviction, or similar actions,where the jurisdiction permits such a legal action based on a person’s being a crime victim;and those actions (other than tort actions) that, in the civil context, are reasonably necessaryas a direct result of the victimization.Forensic medical evidence collection examinations. Forensic medical evidence collectionexaminations for victims to the extent that other funding sources as State appropriations areinsufficient. Forensic medical evidence collection examiners are encouraged to followrelevant guidelines or protocols issued by the State or local jurisdiction. Sub-recipients areencouraged to provide appropriate crisis counseling and/or other types of victim services thatare offered to the victim in conjunction with the examination. Sub-recipients are alsoencouraged to use specially trained examiners such as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners.Forensic interviews. Forensic interviews, with the following parameters: results of theinterview will be used not only for law enforcement and prosecution purpose, but also foridentification of needs such as social services, personal advocacy, case management,substance abuse treatment, and mental health services; interviews are conducted in the contextof a multi-disciplinary investigation and diagnostic team, or in a specialized setting such as7

child advocacy center; and the interviewer is trained to conduct forensic interviewsappropriate to the developmental age and abilities of children, or the developmental, cognitive,and physical or communication disabilities presented by adults.Transportation. Transportation of victims to receive services and to participate in criminaljustice proceedings.Public awareness. Public awareness and education presentations (including, but not limitedto, the development of presentation materials, brochures, newspaper notices, and publicservice announcements) in schools, community centers, and other public forums that aredesigned to inform crime victims of specific rights and services and provide them with (orrefer them to) services and assistance.Transitional housing. Subject to any restrictions on amount, length of time, and eligiblecrimes, set by ADECA, transitional housing for victims (generally, those who have aparticular need for such housing, and who cannot safely return to their previous housing, dueto the circumstances of their victimization), including, but not limited to, travel, rentalassistance, security deposits, utilities, and other costs incidental to the relocation to suchhousing, as well as voluntary support services, such as childcare and counseling.Relocation. Subject to any restrictions on amount, length of time, and eligible crimes, set byADECA, relocation of victims (generally, where necessary for the safety and well-being of avictim), including, but not limited to, reasonable moving expenses, security deposits onhousing, rental expenses, and utility startup costs.Allowable Costs for Activities Supporting Direct ServicesSupporting activities for which VOCA funds may be used include, but are not limited to, thefollowing: Coordination of activities that facilitate the provision of direct services, include, but not arenot limited to, State-wide coordination of victim notification systems, crisis response teams,multi-disciplinary teams, coalitions to support and assist victims, and other such programs,and salaries and expenses of such coordinators. Payment of salaries and expenses of supervisory staff in a project, when ADECA determinesthat such staff are necessary and effectively facilitate the provision of direct services. This willgenerally only be considered for positions that supervise other staff positions who areresponsible for the direct provision of services. Activities that support a coordination and comprehensive response to crime victims needs bydirect service providers, including, but not limited to, payment of salaries and expenses ofdirect service staff serving on child and adult abuse multi-disciplinary investigation andtreatment teams, coordination with federal agencies to provide services to victims of federalcrimes and/or participation on Statewide or other task forces, work groups, and committees todevelop protocols, interagency, and other working agreements. Contracting for specialized professional services at a rate not to exceed a reasonable marketrate, that are not available within the organization. Activities in support of training volunteers on how to provide direct services when suchservices will be provided primarily by volunteers. Activities in support of opportunities for crime victims to meet with perpetrators if suchmeetings are requested or voluntarily agreed to by the victim (who may, at any point,8

withdraw) and have reasonably anticipated beneficial or therapeutic value to crime victims.ADECA must closely review the criteria for conducting these meetings and at a minimum,the following should be considered: the safety and security of the victim; the cost versus thebenefit or therapeutic value to the victim; the procedures for ensuring that participation of thevictim and offenders are voluntary and that the nature of the meeting is clear; the provision ofappropriate support and accompaniment for the victim; appropriate debriefing opportunitiesfor the victim after the meeting; and the credentials of the facilitators.Allowable Administrative CostsAdministrative costs for which VOCA funds may be used by sub-recipients include, but are notlimited to, the following: Personnel costs that are directly related to providing direct services and supporting activities,such as salary expenses (including fringe benefits), and an allocated share of liabilityinsurance. Training exclusively for developing the skills of direct service providers, including paid staffand volunteers, so that they are better able to offer quality direct services. Training-related costs such as travel (within the state only), meals, lodging, and registrationfees for paid direct-service staff. Organizational expenses that are necessary and essential to providing direct service and otherallowable victim services, including, but not limited to, the allocated costs of rent, utilities,and local travel expenses Operating costs which include, but are not limited to, supplies, printing, photocopying,postage, courier service, brochures that describe available resources, computer backupfiles/tapes and storage, design and maintenance of Web site and social media, and essentialcommunication. Costs of employee time spent performing VOCA-required time and attendance sheets,collecting and maintaining crime victims’ records, conducting victim satisfaction surveys andneeds assessments, and funding an allocated share of audit costs.Unallowable Direct ChargesVOCA funds cannot be used for the following expenses. Although once considered allowableexpenses are now considered unallowable direct charges. If these types of items can be acquired as aproper source of match, they will be considered allowable uses to meet any matching requirement. Administrative Time. Any percentage of time for executive directors, financial officers,bookkeepers, office managers, deputy directors, accountants, or the like to provide oversight,administration, supervision, or grant reporting. Supervision time will not be allowable foranyone to supervise a position who also supervises other staff members.Cap on percentage of allocated expenses. Operating expenses that are cost allocated shouldnot be allocated at more than 90%.Out-of-State travel expenses. Travel expenses related to out-of-state trainings to include; airfare, conference registration, per diem, or other associated costs.Large recreational items.Memorials. Any type of expense related to creating memoriam.Job advertisements. Expenses for advertising new or vacant positions.Décor. Any type of expenses that could be considered aesthetic, such as rugs, lamps, pictures,or the like.9

Lawn care, janitorial, custodial, or cleaning services. Costs for any of these services forcentral offices or administrative office/workspaces. An exception will be made for the portionof shelter facilities where clients are housed.Project Evaluation expenses. Any evaluation activities aimed at overall agency activities orany specific aspects of a project.Supervision for licensure purposes. Costs related to obtaining individual licensure.Membership fees. Any agency membership or professional membership fees.Accounting services. Any agreements with outside entities to conduct financial activities.Office furnishings. Desks, hutches, shelving, or other similar types of furniture.Case management systems. Expenses for acquiring systems to support agency functions.Repairs and maintenance expenses and building adaptation. Any building adaptation orcosts of maintenance, repair, or replacement of items (such as a furnace, routine maintenance,roofs, A/C repair/replacement, etc.)General, Property, and Commercial Insurances.Equipment. Leasing or purchasing of vehicles or other equipment valued over 5,000.Unallowable Costs and ActivitiesNotwithstanding any other provision of the guidelines and regulations, no VOCA funds may be usedto fund or support the following, as can be found in the federal rules and regulations for the Victimsof Crime Act Victim Assistance Program (Federal Register :: Victims of Crime Act Victim AssistanceProgram) or other additional costs as stated in the DOJ Financial Guide (DOJ Grants Financial Guide(ojp.gov)). Lobbying. Lobbying or advocacy activities with respect to legislation or to administrativechanges to regulations or administrative policy, whether conducted directly or indirectly. Research and studies. Research and studies. Active investigation and prosecution of criminal activities. The active investigation andprosecution of criminal activity, except for the provision of victim assistance services (e.g.,emotional support, advocacy, and legal services) to crime victims, under 94.119, during suchinvestigation and prosecution. Fundraising. Any activities related to fundraising, except for fee-based, or similar, programincome authorized by ADECA. The sub-recipient may engage in fundraising, as long as suchactivities are not financed by federal grant funds. Capital expenses. Capital improvements; property losses and expenses; real estate purchases;mortgage payments; and construction (except as specifically allowed elsewhere in theregulations and guidelines). Compensation for victims of crime. Reimbursement of crime victims for expenses incurredas a result of a crime, except as otherwise allowed by other provisions in the regulations andguidelines. Medical care. Medical care, except as otherwise allowed by other provisions in theregulations and guidelines. Salaries and expenses of management. Salaries, benefits, fees, furniture, equipment, andother expenses of executive directors, board members, and other administrators (except asspecifically allowed elsewhere in the guidelines and regulations).10

PART II - APPLICATION INFORMATIONGeneral Instructions for New ApplicantsTo complete an application for VOCA Assistance funding you must register with Alabama Grants.Follow these steps to begin your initial registration: Navigate to https://grants.alabama.gov/ Have an Authorized Official (AO) for your organization register as a new user. Complete and submit a registration request. Wait for an email confirmation granting access to the system. After receiving the confirmation, your AO can login to the system and designate access toyour organizational account to other staff members as appropriate. (See the Grantee AdminManual or Grantee Admin Training Video under the Alabama Grants’ Training Materialssection)After successfully registering in the system, an Authorized Official ca

Enacted in 1984, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) is the central source of federal financial support . The Victims of Crime Act stipulates that a minimum of 40 percent of the state's total grant will be awarded by giving 10 percent to each of 4 categories of crime victims: sexual assault, domestic .